POOL BOUNCE BACK WITH EMPHATIC HOME WIN

Pool won the toss and elected to play down the bank first half against a Sunderland side buoyed by an opening day victory over Guisborough.

Within two minutes, home full back Lewis Wilson made it 3 tries in 2 games with a great break from the half way line showing great pace to score out wide. Ryan Foreman's touch line conversion sailed through the posts . 7-0

The Mayfield Park faithful didn't have to wait long for the second try. An impressive scrum, nudged Sunderland backwards and silky hands saw the full back division handle before speedy winger Joseph Scarborough finished in style. Ryan Foreman successfully added the extra 2 points. 14-0

On the 10 minute mark Pool scrum half Tazz Pelzer moved the ball from a scrum 40 metres out quickly to Ben Clarke and then Ryan Foreman handled before Scarborough rounded two defenders with a great turn of pasce to score in the corner . Ryan Foreman struck the upright with the conversion. 19-0

The opening tries had Sunderland shell shocked and they came into the game with a series of forward drives. But the hosts defence was staunch with Martyn Howard and Tom Campbell putting in a number of crunching tackles.

The next fifteen minutes saw play remain between the 2 22 metres lines as both forwards tried to obtain a stranglehold on the game.

Five minutes before the interval some great work by Ryan Foreman saw him chase his delicate kick through and he managed to secure the ball. His opposite number was penalised for holding on and a quickly taken penalty from Pelser saw Foreman on hand to score from close range to secure the bonus point. The centre was wide with conversion. 24-0

Two minutes before half time, Foreman was narrowly wide with a penalty kick from the half way line.

Pool added a fifth and it was a real team try. The forwards made 20 metres with determined drives from John Osborne, Adam Williamson, Martyn Howard and Tom Johnson, before great hands in the backs saw debutant winger Connor Morris to outstrip his
opposite number to score in the corner. Lewis Wilson was narrowly wide with the difficult touch line conversion. 29-0

The second half was a closer affair but Pool managed to score two further tries. The first coming when a Sunderland clearance was fielded by Joseph Scarborough who found Ben Clarke. The fly half threw a dummy to create an overlap on the outside and feed Morris. The 18 year old skipped past the last defender for a great finish and his second try. 34-0

In the last minute of normal play Tom Johnson capped a fine performance and showed great determination to score from 15 metres following a number 8 pick up from the base of the scrum. Wilson added the conversion to make the final score 41-0.

This was an emphatic response following the narrow defeat at Ponteland. The hosts played some excellent rugby despite the torrid conditions and will be hoping to use this performance as a springboard going forward.

Next week Pool make the short distance across town to take on West Hartlepool in a mouthwatering derby that will mark the first time both sides have met in league competition.